Truss.



PATENTF") AUG. 6, 1907.

'1. E. MARTIN.

TRUSS.

APPLIOATION FILED OCT. 21. 1905.

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UNITED STATES? PATENT oFFron.

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muss;

"tain new and useful Improvements in Trusses, of which the following is a full andclear specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a plan view; Figs}? aside-elevation; Fig,- 3 a rear view; and, Figs. 4, 5, and'li',- detail views herein- 3 a after set forth.

The object-of this invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive truss which willhave a wide range of adjustability and uses and may be ...worn with a minimum of discomfort, and which when once adjusted to .15

the'rwearers' body will permit the'utmost exertion as well as freedom of movement of the body without disarrangingor dislodging the apparatus, as more fully hereinafter set forth.

' -A further object isto'so construct the truss that it will not require belts, connecting straps or leg straps to hold itin position or'to-aid in producing pressure.

To .the accomplishment of this object and such others as may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the parts, andcombination of parts hereinafter fully de 25 scribed, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had tov the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which the same reference characters designate like parts throughout theseveral views.

' Fig, 3, so as to embrace the hips of the wearer, and the front pads. are approximately in the same horizontal plane with the respective back-pads.

- Connecting the rear downwardly-turned ends of the arms is a thin flat spring f, which is clamped face-wise to the arms so that it will lie inja horizontal position when-thetruss' is on the wearer A pair of screws 9 clamp each end of thisspring to the armin such mannr that the arm-will not only have a longitudinal adjnstability on the spring but will also have a pivotal movement, theaxis of this pivotal movement being substantially coincident with the front pads. The screws also serve to secure the pads to the arms; and to give an easy frictional adjustment; an elastic cushion spring and the pads.

The arms are as usual slightly elastic and are also permanently bendable as usual to permit of their adaptation to the patients figure.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 21, 1905. Serial No 283,815

Patented Augufi, 1907.

Y A feature of great importance lies in so curving the arms and locating the back-pads with reference to the front pads that when the'truss is used for inguinal or femoral hernia with the front pads bearing at the proper points on the abdomen, the rear pads will always be brought low enough to bear upon the pelvic bone (below the lowest vertebra) and the arms will curve upwardly and forwardly and rest in the slight depressions always found in the side'edges' of the hip-bones,

. the forward downwardly-extending parts of the arms lying snugly in the respective depressions betweenthe thighs and the abdomen. This arrangement of the appliance not only renders it exceedingly comfortable even in the hottest weather but also makes it absolutely impossible to disturb the truss'by any possible exertion or movement of the body. This desirable result is obtained by locating the rear pads low down with respect to the front pads, that is, about on a horizontal plane with them, so that when the front pads are properly positioned and the arms are in position the backpads will becompelled to bear upon the back at a point below the 'hinge connection of the spinal column with i the pelvic bone, thus leaving the vertebrae free to articulate without in the least affecting the truss. It will be understood, however, that my invention is not confined to thus approximately alining the back pads with the front pads since in trusses for umbilical rupture and floatingkidneys the pads will not be in alinement.

My truss is adapted for single hernia as well as double hernia, but in single hernia and also for floating kidney, one of the front pads will of course simply serve to assist in holding the truss in place on the body. The use of a spring connecting plate or other flexible connection at therear permits the arms to be sprung 'sufiiciently wide apart to enable the wearer to place ,the truss around his body without bending or flexing the arms, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. This spring also serves to normally throw the front pads toward each other, whereby the arms will be clasped against the; body with an even, gentle pressure which will be sufiicient to support the truss in position but will not be sufficient to cause discomfort.

It will be obvious that should the spring connection weaken or permanently flex from long or careless usage, this may be readily corrected by simply slightly I permanently bowing the spring backward midway its length, whereby the tendency of the spring to throw the arms close to the body will be restored. This bowing of the spring may be easily done with the hands, as the spring in all cases will be made of comparatively thin, light material.- I prefer thin, flat metal for the connecting member but I am not restricted in this respect, as any other flexible material such as hard rubber, celluloid, stiff leather, etc. may be employed.

Stripping of the threads of the screws is prevented and a resilient frictional clamping action is secured by the interposed elastic washers. This frictional clamping action is desirable in that it assists in making an easy and accurate adjustment of the arms. The screws and elastic washers enable sufficient friction to be brought to bear upon the spring-plate to hold the arms in their adjusted position against loosening under all ordinary usage, but should there be any slipping action at the clamps the user may readily reset the arms by the use of a screw-driver. It will he observed that this adjustment of the inclination of the arms is secured Without disturbing the position of the front pads with respect to the rear pads, the pads being always kept approximately.in the same horizontal plane.

The provisions of means for adjusting the arms bodily toward and from each other is another feature of great importance since it gives the truss a still wider range of adjustment in adapting it to different sized persons without throwing the abdominal pads out of their proper relation to the back pa'dsf This lateral adjust-- ment is desirably secured, as shown, by the same clamps that secure the pivotal adjustment of the arms on the spring connecting-plate. This bodily and pivotal adjustment of the arms in addition to the capability of permanently flexing the spring as welbas the arms, gives the truss a practically universal adjustability, thus enabling it to be comfortably and readily fitted to all persons within the range of its possible adjustment. It will be observed also that my truss is reversible and is thus adapted to be used for umbilical hernia, and as an abdominal supporter, and

as a support aftersurgical operations upon any part of the abdomen.

Rising ii om each ot-the main back-pads is aflat I spring 2' carrying a supplemental pad, this spring being clamped between tlie arms and the spring-connection by the screws 9 that clamp the same together. These springs 11 have a limited lateral adjustment by reason of theenlargeme'nt of the screw-holes, 'so thatthe supplemental pads may be adjusted to bear on the bae-k at a comfortable point. The object of these upstanding supplemental pads is to prevent the truss from being tilted forward by the action of the abdomen and pelvic bone is ample to re'c eive both. the main and the supplemental pads, but even if they should extend up and bear upon the lower vertebra no discomfort or inconvenience will result as the main pressure is of course taken up by the main pads. Another'advantage of these supplemental pads is'that they exert a. sufficient holding-up action to permit the truss to be. used for female complaints by attaching to one or both of the abdominal. pads a suitable uterine supporter.

various mechanical embodiments of the invention '65 It'will be apparent to those skilled in the art that.

possible and I, therefore, do not wish to belimited'lo v the exact arrangement and construction shown.-

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is I. A truss consisting of a pair of comparatively rlgii'F' arms with abdominal pads attached thereto and connected I at their rear ends by a bendable connection more eallli flexed than the side arms but of sufliclentstlflness toipre ventthe armsof the truss from tipping outwardly or inwardly from their adjusted positions required to fit the body of the wearer, said connection being alao'sufliclently flexible to permit the front ends ofthe arms to-b spread apart without bending the arms and withoutpermanently.

bending the connection. i

2. A truss consisting of a pair of comparatively rigid ends, a transversely-flexible connection connecting their rear ends; a baek-pad appliance at their rear ends, the

bowed arms provided with abdominal pads at their front connections between the arms and the connecting pal-t ends. 'and a part connecting these latter ends, the connections between the arms and the connecting part being plvotal, the axes of the pivots running forwardly and backwardlr. so that the bowed arms may be adjusted-upwardly and downwardly to fit different sized bodies. I g j 4. in combination, a pair of'body-embracing'armrcnri'ying abdominal pads at their forward ends and mean! connectlng their rear ends, a buck 'pad attached to their rear ends, and a supplemental laterally adjustable pad supported at a point above said back pad.

5. A truss comprising a pair of body-embracing arms whose rear ends are connected together, a pair of main back pads carried by the arms, anda pair of supplemental back pads supported above the'main back pads, for the purpose set forth. I j '2 v 6. A truss comprising a pair of body-embracing arms and means connecting their rear ends, a pair of main back-pads, a pair of upstanding springs rising above themain pads and carrying supplemental back pads.

T. A truss comprising a pair of body-embracing arms 

